Texans coach Gary Kubiak heaped praise on backup RB Chris Brown Monday.
Brown came in as the Texans' "closer", rushing for the majority of his 45 yards in the fourth quarter. "I'm going to continue with the role I see Chris in ," Kubiak said. "Obviously, Chris responded (against the Bengals). He was much better, especially good at the end of that game." Brown has 32 carries on the season while Steve Slaton has 91. Expect that kind of split to continue.

Regarding Steve Slaton

Texans coach Gary Kubiak said his biggest concern with Steve Slaton right now is his fumbles.
It's not a problem that will threaten Slaton's playing time, as long as he corrects it. Slaton lost another fumble in Sunday's win over the Bengals and has now fumbled five times in six games. Chris Brown replaced Slaton immediately after his latest fumble, but Kubiak said he thought Brown was the better back to run out the clock.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playernews.aspx?sport=NFL

Jackie Chiles

10-20-2009, 02:04 PM

There isn't any consistency but I saw some signs of life from the running game on Sunday. I have a feeling once Slaton busts a big one things will get a bit easier. And as long as follow the pass first game-plan the rest of the way we should be dynamic on offense regardless.

Texecutioner

10-20-2009, 02:08 PM

There isn't any consistency but I saw some signs of life from the running game on Sunday. I have a feeling once Slaton busts a big one things will get a bit easier. And as long as follow the pass first game-plan the rest of the way we should be dynamic on offense regardless.

Well Slaton is breaking the big ones, it's just been on the pass. I really liked what Kubes and Shanahan did in the last game by trying to get Slaton more involved in the passing game where he could find the space he needed to break the big plays. There have been several runs this year where he almost broke a big one, it's just that one guy would get there at the last second and stop him. When Slaton has had room to run, he's been pretty damn good though. THey just need to open up the holes for him in the running game and he can break those big plays like you've seen him do in the passing game. If they continue to struggle though, they need to do everything possible at finding ways to get him the ball with the pass and run him that way. Slaton is a dynamic play maker, so getting him the ball in space needs to be a top priority.

Spike

10-20-2009, 02:09 PM

There isn't any consistency but I saw some signs of life from the running game on Sunday. I have a feeling once Slaton busts a big one things will get a bit easier. And as long as follow the pass first game-plan the rest of the way we should be dynamic on offense regardless.

Agreed...although, I am no more in favor of blidnly commiting to a pass first game-plan than I am stubbornly comitting to a run first game-plan. We need to stick with what is working. If the passing games continues with the same sort of success we are capable of, defenses will need to adjust. This may allow for more opportunities with the running game.

GP

10-20-2009, 02:25 PM

Do we still have Arian Foster?

Have not remembered the deal on him.

Is it an injury and practice squad thing? Did he get signed away from us? Did he get dropped?

Too lazy to look it up. Someone help me.

We can't roll into the next two season with only Steve Slaton and Moats/Brown hanging around as long-term solutions.

GP

10-20-2009, 02:28 PM

Agreed...although, I am no more in favor of blidnly commiting to a pass first game-plan than I am stubbornly comitting to a run first game-plan. We need to stick with what is working. If the passing games continues with the same sort of success we are capable of, defenses will need to adjust. This may allow for more opportunities with the running game.

Yes.

We take what we're given.

And it's obvious that we have as good of a passing attack as any other in the NFL right now.

Make people stop you. Don't try and pretend you can do it all. UNTIL you can do it all. This team has a finesse run blocking offensive line. We need violent men on that line. I think Eric Winston is the meanest we have. We need four more mean guys who have stability and interpersonal relationship issues.

Yes, there must be running plays mixed in. No, it cannot be seen as a mandatory 50-50 split each time (as Kubiak said he desires it). Not until you have a meaner offensive line who can get 1 yard at the goal line. It's dumb to expect any RB to get that yard on his own in today's NFL.

JB

10-20-2009, 02:29 PM

Do we still have Arian Foster?

Have not remembered the deal on him.

Is it an injury and practice squad thing? Did he get signed away from us? Did he get dropped?

Too lazy to look it up. Someone help me.

We can't roll into the next two season with only Steve Slaton and Moats/Brown hanging around as long-term solutions.

Yes, Foster is on the practice squad

RipTraxx

10-20-2009, 02:48 PM

Brown had one decent game vs. the TWO games he's cost us.

Im not drinking the kool-aid yet. He got lucky.

BigBull17

10-20-2009, 02:51 PM

I want to see more of Moats. The running game seems to move a little more when he gets a few carries.

Marcus

10-20-2009, 03:05 PM

I want to see more of Moats. The running game seems to move a little more when he gets a few carries.

Absolutely. I don't know why we're not seeing more of Moats. I'm pretty much in favor of a running back by committee approach, if anything else, just for troubleshooting purposes. Find out if it's Slaton or the OL being the reason the running game isn't working.

GP

10-20-2009, 03:05 PM

Brown had one decent game vs. the TWO games he's cost us.

Im not drinking the kool-aid yet. He got lucky.

Yeah, this is classic Kubiak on the issue of how he selects RBs:

"I make good decisions. Chris Brown will succeed. Because I will him to succeed."

Fact is this: I was dang scared when I saw Chris Brown running over the middle at the end of the game. I got the shakes. I seriously did.

This team's RB situation is nowhere near where it should be. It's thin. I'll take it for now. But the RB situation is shaky IMO. I actually prefer Moats right now.

Section516

10-20-2009, 03:11 PM

Yeah, this is classic Kubiak on the issue of how he selects RBs:

"I make good decisions. Chris Brown will succeed. Because I will him to succeed."

Fact is this: I was dang scared when I saw Chris Brown running over the middle at the end of the game. I got the shakes. I seriously did.

This team's RB situation is nowhere near where it should be. It's thin. I'll take it for now. But the RB situation is shaky IMO. I actually prefer Moats right now.

This is because Houston sports fans have Battered Fan Syndrome.

We always feel we can fix our teams, and always end up bruised and battered in the fetal position in the corner of the room.

But yes, I know what your talking about. :choke:

TheRealJoker

10-20-2009, 03:19 PM

Hard to say whether it would be better to give Moats more carries. Slaton is a playmaker so we've gotta give him playing time. The coaching staff feels that Brown is our best option in short yardage.

The only way we see Moats getting carries is if we stop throwing the ball less. Since that's pretty much the reason we're moving the ball on offense I dont think we'll be seeing Moats get any carries until Slaton has a 100 yard day on the ground which would mean Schaub isn't throwing the ball 40-50 times a game.

beerlover

10-20-2009, 03:37 PM

Moats is slowed because of turf toe

Texecutioner

10-20-2009, 03:38 PM

It seems like everyone wants to see more of Moats. Moats played well in that one game, and we haven't hardly seen him since. I don't understand Kubiak's fixation on Chris Brown. He's done nothing for this team and hasn't proven anything since he's been here other than the fact that Tennessee was smart by not retaining him when they had the chance, because he's been our problem ever since.

BigBull17

10-20-2009, 03:48 PM

Hard to say whether it would be better to give Moats more carries. Slaton is a playmaker so we've gotta give him playing time. The coaching staff feels that Brown is our best option in short yardage.

The only way we see Moats getting carries is if we stop throwing the ball less. Since that's pretty much the reason we're moving the ball on offense I dont think we'll be seeing Moats get any carries until Slaton has a 100 yard day on the ground which would mean Schaub isn't throwing the ball 40-50 times a game.

It just makes sense, that if you put as much as we do into running the ball, you should try to fix what isn;t working. You can still throw to Slaton. You can have them both on the field at the same time. Use him in the slot. Maybe take a few of Slaton's carries and give to Moats. 12-8/15-5 ratio.

TheRealJoker

10-20-2009, 03:54 PM

It just makes sense, that if you put as much as we do into running the ball, you should try to fix what isn;t working. You can still throw to Slaton. You can have them both on the field at the same time. Use him in the slot. Maybe take a few of Slaton's carries and give to Moats. 12-8/15-5 ratio.

I'd like to see them run a wildcat style package with Casey at QB and Moats/Slaton as the RBs. That could cause some headaches for DCs with the athleticism in that backfield.

BigBull17

10-20-2009, 03:57 PM

I'd like to see them run a wildcat style package with Casey at QB and Moats/Slaton as the RBs. That could cause some headaches for DCs with the athleticism in that backfield.

That would be cool. That would require Casey see the field...He needs to get more snaps, me thinks.

m5kwatts

10-20-2009, 03:58 PM

Slaton in the first half, Brown in the second half. Its worked in all our wins this year. Brown has played very well this year in his role other than the last carry of the JAX game.

RipTraxx

10-20-2009, 04:22 PM

Yeah, this is classic Kubiak on the issue of how he selects RBs:

"I make good decisions. Chris Brown will succeed. Because I will him to succeed."

Fact is this: I was dang scared when I saw Chris Brown running over the middle at the end of the game. I got the shakes. I seriously did.

This team's RB situation is nowhere near where it should be. It's thin. I'll take it for now. But the RB situation is shaky IMO. I actually prefer Moats right now.

While Gibbs and Kubiak have an approach to RB's and not drafting them in the high rounds...but enough is enough. Alabama runs a ZBS system and Mark Ingram is KILLING it right now. If he declares he could be available at our pick.

badboy

10-20-2009, 04:28 PM

I think it is the "mis-use" of Slaton's skills. He was not drafted to be the main guy at the position. Due to his surprising yardage after being forced into an every down back role, I think there was a reluctance to go after a power back.It take a good evaluator to select a veteran back with history of injuries and project how he will do. We have not been to successful with that. I am very hopeful that a high draft pick will be used that will allow Kubes to re-assign Slaton and take advantage more of his skills in moving in the open. Brag all you want on his total yardage, his run avg sucks jelly beans.

badboy

10-20-2009, 04:36 PM

While Gibbs and Kubiak have an approach to RB's and not drafting them in the high rounds...but enough is enough. Alabama runs a ZBS system and Mark Ingram is KILLING it right now. If he declares he could be available at our pick.http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=379061

Ingram

Insideop

10-20-2009, 05:24 PM

Absolutely. I don't know why we're not seeing more of Moats. I'm pretty much in favor of a running back by committee approach, if anything else, just for troubleshooting purposes. Find out if it's Slaton or the OL being the reason the running game isn't working.

Yes, this is the question that I've been trying to figure out all season. How can a team that was so good running the ball last year be so bad at it this year? Is it Slaton and his extra bulk? Is it the O-line with their "replacement" Guards? Or, have the other teams caught up with the ZB scheme? Maybe it's a combination of them. Whatever the reason, they do need to find the answer and get it fixed. No matter how good a team is at its one dimension (passing or running) sooner or later the other teams learn how to stop it. It's much better to be good at both and keep the other teams guessing, like we did last year in the 2nd half of the season. JMHO!

Brisco_County

10-20-2009, 07:14 PM

I'd like to see them run a wildcat style package with Casey at QB and Moats/Slaton as the RBs. That could cause some headaches for DCs with the athleticism in that backfield.

That won't happen this year. For a team to effectively run the wildcat, they have to commit to it. Miami is the only team that really commits, while all the others just look like they're experimenting with something trendy. Kubiak doesn't seem like the type to fool around with it unless it's polished.

Personally, I don't think it would be a bad idea for next year. Casey would be ideal.

Brisco_County

10-20-2009, 07:24 PM

I think it is the "mis-use" of Slaton's skills. He was not drafted to be the main guy at the position. Due to his surprising yardage after being forced into an every down back role, I think there was a reluctance to go after a power back.It take a good evaluator to select a veteran back with history of injuries and project how he will do. We have not been to successful with that. I am very hopeful that a high draft pick will be used that will allow Kubes to re-assign Slaton and take advantage more of his skills in moving in the open. Brag all you want on his total yardage, his run avg sucks jelly beans.

Slaton is good enough to be an every down back, though that's not a good idea in this league. But he often moves piles to get an extra two yards. He's powerful for his size, and his break away speed is still apparent.

The problem is the O-line. Teams have film on the ZBS, so now we need more physical linemen who can impose it.

silvrhand

10-20-2009, 07:27 PM

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=379061

Ingram

Roll tide Roll baby :)

silvrhand

10-20-2009, 07:28 PM

Slaton is good enough to be an every down back, though that's not a good idea in this league. But he often moves piles to get an extra two yards. He's powerful for his size, and his break away speed is still apparent.

The problem is the O-line. Teams have film on the ZBS, so now we need more physical linemen who can impose it.

Doesn't matter if he is getting 5 yards per carry when he fumbles every game. Fumbling can not happen that often in this league.

CloakNNNdagger

10-20-2009, 08:02 PM

Moats is slowed because of turf toe

Moats showed some lightning moves during his "opportunity." His turf toe showed up afterwards, and he's not been seen since. Turf toe is a difficult problem to get rid of, especially without a substantial rest. Hope we see him again in the next few weeks.

CloakNNNdagger

10-20-2009, 08:10 PM

I think it is the "mis-use" of Slaton's skills. He was not drafted to be the main guy at the position. Due to his surprising yardage after being forced into an every down back role, I think there was a reluctance to go after a power back.It take a good evaluator to select a veteran back with history of injuries and project how he will do. We have not been to successful with that. I am very hopeful that a high draft pick will be used that will allow Kubes to re-assign Slaton and take advantage more of his skills in moving in the open. Brag all you want on his total yardage, his run avg sucks jelly beans.

He has, indeed, sucked eggs re. his total yds, including against the Bengals. His "extra" 102 yds passing was probably a gift from the Bengals losing their best rusher/sacker (8 sacks/6 games) early in the 1st quarter. I don't think that many people realize how much the entire game and possibly outcome might have been affected by that loss alone.